Second-division football clubs Dynamo Dresden and Energie Cottbus each recorded a win in a series of two extended pre-season matches, providing both teams with rigorous preparation ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 2. Bundesliga campaign. These matches, structured as two separate games each lasting the full 90 minutes, offered both coaching staffs an opportunity to evaluate their squads in a competitive setting just two weeks before the season opener.

First Match: Energie Cottbus Hand Dresden First Pre-Season Loss

In the opening fixture of the double-header, newly promoted Energie Cottbus achieved a 2-1 victory over Dynamo Dresden. Dresden initially took the lead through Vincent Vermeij in the 33rd minute, but Cottbus responded swiftly. Lukas Michelbrink equalized just a minute later, and Dominik Pelivan secured the win for Cottbus with a goal in the 52nd minute. This result marked Dresden's first defeat in their current pre-season schedule.

Second Match: Dresden Responds with Narrow Win

The second game saw Dresden field a rotated line-up, giving opportunities to squad players. Energie Cottbus went ahead first as Jannis Boziaris successfully converted a 20-meter free kick in the 37th minute. Dresden, however, turned the match around in the second half. Till Neininger drew the teams level in the 53rd minute, followed by Jonas Oehmichen scoring the decisive goal in the 66th minute, resulting in a 2-1 win for Dresden.

Comprehensive Squad Assessments

The decision to play two full-length matches was agreed upon by both clubs to maximize match fitness and provide extensive playing time to as many squad members as possible. With the league resumption imminent, both teams viewed these fixtures as critical in the final phase of their preparations. The matches were conducted at Dynamo Dresden's training facility and were closed to the public.

Cottbus Faces Injury Challenges

Energie Cottbus entered the test matches with several personnel issues. Recent defensive signings Ryan Malone and Fousseny Doumbia were unavailable due to injury, impacting the team's defensive options. Additionally, club captain Axel Borgmann has yet to recover sufficiently to participate in any pre-season matches. As a result, coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz was required to make significant adjustments to his line-up.

Despite these challenges, Tolcay Cigerci captained Energie Cottbus for the first time following his return from a foot injury sustained last season. The match also marked the debut of goalkeeper Kevin Kratzsch, who joined from Regionalliga side Rot-Weiß Oberhausen during the summer transfer period.

New Signing for Cottbus

In parallel with these friendlies, Energie Cottbus secured the services of U19 national player Luca Erlein on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. The versatile defender has a background with TSG Hoffenheim's youth teams and recently participated in the UEFA U19 European Championship in Wales representing Germany. His arrival is expected to strengthen the defensive line, particularly in light of the club's current injury situation.

Final Preparations Before Season Start

For both Dynamo Dresden and Energie Cottbus, these matches served as the penultimate pre-season tests. Dresden's final friendly is scheduled for the following Saturday against Bundesliga club 1. FC Union Berlin. Energie Cottbus will also complete their pre-season with a match against Werder Bremen, aiming to refine tactics and squad cohesion before the official season kickoff on 9 August.